Handle for vacuum cleaner

ABSTRACT

A vacuum cleaner handle including an intermediate portion having a channel-shaped cavity therein. The cavity is covered by a removable closure member having a slot therein so that coins or other articles may be deposited in the cavity. Although the handle is hollow, the intermediate portion of the handle and its closure member present an attractive solid appearance.

United States Patent MacFarland [54] HANDLE FOR VACUUM CLEANER [72] Inventor: Charles H. MacFarland, Cleveland, Ohio [73] Assignee: The Scott & Fetzer Company, Cleveland,

Ohio

[22] Filed: Apr. 14, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 28,437

[52] U.S. Cl ..l5/339, 15/410 [56] References Cited Field ol'Search ..l5/4l0, 350, 351,412,339

I UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,273,194 9/1966 Jepson et al. 15 4 10 x Jan. 25, 1972 3,218,783 11/1965 Ripple ..l5/35OX 3,246,359 4/1966 Griffiths ..15/4l2X Primary ExaminerWalter A. Scheel Assistant ExaminerC. K. Moore Attorney-McNenny, Farrington, Pearne & Gordon 1 7 1 ABSTRACT A vacuum cleaner handle including an intermediate portion having a channel-shaped cavity therein. The cavity is covered by a removable closure member having a slot therein so that coins or other articles may be deposited in the cavity. Although the handle is hollow, the intermediate portion of the handle and its closure member present an attractive solid appearance.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEU mzmsrz 3.636584 INVENTOR CHARLES H. MacFARLA/VD %WW ame ATTOR YS HANDLE FOR VACUUM CLEANER This invention relates generally to handles for upright vacuum cleaners and, more particularly, to a novel and improved handle assembly. The handle assembly of the present invention provides a convenient storage cavity therein which may be readily opened so as to remove the contents.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a handle assembly having a storage cavity therein and a slot opening into the cavity so that the cavity may be used as a coin bank or as a receptacle for small objects, such as paper clips or hairpins, found during use of the cleaner and not desirably picked up by the cleaner in the usual vacuuming operation.

It is another object of the invention to provide a handle assembly which can be inexpensively manufactured and easily assembled.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a handle assembly having a substantially hollow structure but which presents an attractive solid appearance.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following description and drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of an upright vacuum cleaner incorporating the handle assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the handle assembly illustrated in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a vacuum cleaner having a chassis 12 connected to the lower end of a handle assembly 14 which embodies the present invention. The upper end of the handle assembly 14 extends to a handgrip 16, which is adapted to be held during the operation of the vacuum cleaner.

The vacuum cleaner 10 includes a dust bag 18 which is connected to the chassis 12 at a blower outlet 20. The upper end of the dust bag 18 is provided with a bead chain 22 and a clip 24 which connects with a second clip 26 located on the handgrip 16. As illustrated, the clips 24 and 26 have been disconnected and the dust bag 18 has been pulled away from the handle assembly for purposes of clarity.

The lower end of the handle assembly 14 is pivotally connected to the chassis 12 by handle pin 28. The handle assembly 14 is provided with cord hooks 30 and 32, which are suitable for wrapping an electrical cord (not shown) therebetween.

Referring to FIG. 3, the handle assembly 14 provides a pair of longitudinally extending said flange members 34 and 36 which border a laterally extending front face 38. Adjacent the lower end of the handle assembly, the side flange members 34 and 36 extend to provide lower arms 40 and 42, respectively. The arms 40 and 42 have bores 44 through which handle pin 28 extends so as to pivotally connect the handle assembly to the chassis 12.

The front face 38 longitudinally extends from a reinforcing rib 46 adjacent the lower end of the handle assembly 14 to a crossmember 48 which connects the side flange members adjacent the upper end of the assembly. As shown in FIG. 3, the upper side of the crossmember 48 is structured to mate with the lower end of the hand grip 16.

As shown in FIG. 2, the front face 38 and the flange members 34 and 36 have a channel-shaped configuration. However, the front face 38 which forms the crossmember of the channel is slightly recessed with respect to projections 34a and 36a of the flange members 34 and 36 so as to receive a decorative insert 50, shown in phantom outline.

The rear side of the handle assembly 14 includes a detachable cover 52 having a channel-shaped configuration suitable for telescopically mating with the flanges 34 and 36. To that end, the detachable cover 52 is provided with a backwall or face 54 having projecting flanges 56 about its periphery. Thus, the detachable cover 52 telescopically interfits within the channel generally defined by the flange 34, the front face 38, and the flange 36, so as to form a storage cavity 58 within the handle assembly. The cavity 58 has a cross section which progressively decreases in area from its lower end to its upper end.

The lower portion of the back face 52 is inwardly bent towards the front face 38 so as to assure an effective closure at the lower portions of the cavity 58.

Since the cord hook 30 projects through the flange 34 and extends into the cavity 58, the projecting flange 56 is provided with a slot 60. The slot 60, which is aligned with the hook 30, provides clearance for the projecting portion of the cord hook.

in order to secure the detachable cover 52 to the handle assembly, the backface 54 is provided with a depression 62 having a centrally located bore 64 extending therethrough. A retainer screw 66 having a headportion 68 and a threaded shank 70 is provided to secure the cover 52 in place. The front face 38 includes across rib'72 having an axially aligned, internally threaded bore 74 adapted to receive the threaded shank 70 of the retainer screw 66. Thus, the retainer screw 66 may be tightened into the bore 74 until the head of the retainer screw contacts the backface 54 so as to securely fasten the cover 52 in place.

As may be noted, the bore 64 has a smaller diameter than the threaded shank 70 so that the retainer screw 66 remains captive with respect to the cover 52 when the cover is removed.

The cover 52 can be inexpensively molded from a suitable rigid plastic material. For example, the acrylonitrilebutadienestyrene or ABS resins have been used to form satisfactory covers.

When the detachable cover 52 is installed, the handle assembly 14 will have an attractive, solid appearance, although it is substantially hollow.

Adjacent the upper end of the cover 52, a slot 76 is provided. The slot 76 opens into the cavity 58 and is dimensioned to receive small articles such as coins. Therefore, the cavity 58 may be utilized as a coin bank.

In addition, the storage cavity 58 may also be used as a receptacle for small objects, such as paper clips, hairpins, or the like. Such objects, which the user may not desire to pick up in the usual vacuuming operation, may be placed in the cavity 58 by means of the slot 76. Thus, the user is not greatly inconvenienced by such articles in the course of the vacuuming operation. Such articles may, of course, be disposed of in the future, since the cover 52 is readily detachable so as to remove the contents of the cavity 58.

I claim:

1. A vacuum cleaner handle assembly having a lower end connected to a vacuum cleaner chassis and an upper end forming a handgrip, an intermediate portion extending longitudinally and laterally between said lower and upper ends, said intermediate portion including means defining a cavity which is substantially continuous and coextensive with the longitudinal and lateral dimensions of said intermediate portion, said cavity defining means including spaced-apart wall means which define continuous front and backfaces for said cavity, said wall means being spaced apart a distance substantially less than the longitudinal and lateral dimensions of said intermediate portion to provide said assembly with an elongated, flat, solidlike appearance, fastening means securing said wall means together, one of said wall means being dimensioned to interfit with and be spaced a predetermined distance from the other of said wall means so as to define said cavity therebetween, one of said wall means having slot defining means therein opening into said cavity adjacent an upper portion thereof, said cavity being otherwise sealed when said wall means are interfitted.

2. A vacuum cleaner handle assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein each wall means includes projecting flanges about its periphery which telescopically engage with the flanges of the other wall means to provide said interfit and maintain said wall means spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the distance said flanges are telescopically engaged.

6. A vacuum cleaner handle assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein said fastening means includes a retainer screw having a shank portion extending through said bore and connecting with said front face.

7. A vacuum cleaner handle assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein said fastening means is captively held by said backface even when said fastening means is disconnected from said front face.

8. A vacuum cleaner handle assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein said wall means defining said backface is formed of a rigid plastic material.

I: w r i a 

1. A vacuum cleaner handle assembly having a lower end connected to a vacuum cleaner chassis and an upper end forming a handgrip, an intermediate portion extending longitudinally and laterally between said lower and upper ends, said intermediate portion including means defining a cavity which is substantially continuous and coextensive with the longitudinal and lateral dimensions of said intermediate portion, said cavity defining means including spaced-apart wall means which define continuous front and back faces for said cavity, said wall means being spaced apart a distance substantially less than the longitudinal and lateral dImensions of said intermediate portion to provide said assembly with an elongated, flat, solidlike appearance, fastening means securing said wall means together, one of said wall means being dimensioned to interfit with and be spaced a predetermined distance from the other of said wall means so as to define said cavity therebetween, one of said wall means having slot defining means therein opening into said cavity adjacent an upper portion thereof, said cavity being otherwise sealed when said wall means are interfitted.
 2. A vacuum cleaner handle assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein each wall means includes projecting flanges about its periphery which telescopically engage with the flanges of the other wall means to provide said interfit and maintain said wall means spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the distance said flanges are telescopically engaged.
 3. A vacuum cleaner handle assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein said cavity has a cross section which progressively decreases in area from the lower end thereof to the upper end thereof.
 4. A vacuum cleaner handle assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein said slot defining means extends through said backface of said cavity defining means.
 5. A vacuum cleaner handle assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein said backface is provided with a bore therethrough adapted to receive said fastening means.
 6. A vacuum cleaner handle assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein said fastening means includes a retainer screw having a shank portion extending through said bore and connecting with said front face.
 7. A vacuum cleaner handle assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein said fastening means is captively held by said backface even when said fastening means is disconnected from said front face.
 8. A vacuum cleaner handle assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein said wall means defining said backface is formed of a rigid plastic material. 